Incredible Andes

We want you to have the best experience in Ecuador, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike tour, with the right level of challenge, for you.

You’re a very experienced mountain biker, riding at least three times a week through the season and comfortable on: steep, fast singletrack descents; technical rock chutes; loose volcanic ash; muddy, jungle-style singletrack; and sandy trails. Read more on our advanced skill level.

Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other MTB tours [link] that may be a better fit for your mountain biking ability.

Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.

Skill level: Advanced

• You are very confident handling most types of riding and obstacles, including drops (up to 1 foot), rocks, logs, switchbacks, larger rock gardens and sustained technical singletrack
• You can brake, use gears and corner instinctively
• You have excellent bike handling skills and can lift front and rear wheels, do small jumps, corner, climb and descend steep trails
• You have considerable experience of riding on a wide variety of technical terrains including: rocky, rooty, muddy, loose, fast singletrack, exposed trails, bedrock for extended periods
• You mountain bike at least three times a week and rarely get off and walk sections
• You can climb and descend comfortably on technical singletrack for as long as required

Fitness level: 6/7

• You have an excellent level of bike fitness, exercising four or five times every week throughout the year, for at least an hour at a time
• You are comfortable mountain biking up to six hours a day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops, for four or more consecutive days
• You can tackle several serious climbs a day, up to 600 metres each

Typical trails you’ll be riding

• The trails on our mountain bike tour Ecuador are natural ‘rustic’ ancient walking paths of varying trail surface, that will require you to choose your own riding line and decide if it is suitable to ride
• Double track: undulating and sometimes steep jeep tracks made up of a hard-packed and loose dirt surface
• Singletrack: you will encounter up to head-sized, fixed and loose rocks, as well as fixed bedrock style trails, deep channels, channels and volcanic ash sections
• The surface may be dry and loose, or wet and muddy depending on weather conditions
• Trails in the forest will have roots crossing them and may be narrow through the trees
• You will be riding at some very high altitudes – it is the Andes! – but the itinerary has been designed to allow you to acclimatise. We also have some handy tips for riding at high altitudes

Training for your Ecuador MTB adventure

To get the most out of your mountain bike tour in Ecuador you should plan plenty of training in advance of your tour.

The ideal bike for the trails in Ecuador is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and 140mm -160mm of travel front and rear. Ideal tyres for Ecuador are… [example in modal]

We recommend that you travel with your own bike, and have some handy tips on how to do this. When travelling with your own bike, you must ensure that it has been properly serviced before the trip.

If you would prefer not to travel with your bike, we can arrange rental of a good quality full suspension mountain bike for the duration of your mountain bike tour in Ecuador.

We have a fleet of Santa Cruz Tallboy and Ibis Ripmo bikes to rent in Ecuador.

We only run small group mountain bike tours to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will be a maximum of 10 people in each group. The minimum number of people we require to run this mountain bike tour in Ecuador is four.

Our Ecuador mountain bike tour caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old. Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.

The mountain bike tour in Ecuador is a guided mountain bike vacation, ideal for advanced mountain bikers. Riding here, amongst the world’s highest active volcanoes, you’ll experience a few tough climbs (largely because of the altitude) and steep, fast descents, as well as some lovely flowing singletrack through a huge diversity of landscapes and eco-systems.

Altitude is a factor in this trip and we have some tips for riding at high altitudes and managing the effects of altitude.

The distances we cover each day range from 15km to 50km, in accordance with the technical difficulty of the trails: the easier stages of the route are longer. The technical difficulty of the trails increases each day, so you can practise your technique and increase your confidence as you progress through the tour.

Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you.

No, you only need to carry a 20 litre back pack with you whilst riding. We have a support vehicle and driver who will transfer your luggage to your next accommodation, and have it ready and waiting in your room when you arrive.

Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills training during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your MTB adventure in Ecuador.

If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!

Your mountain bike guides are local, qualified, experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking in the Andes of Ecuador. Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of the tour. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip. Meet your mountain bike guide in Ecuador.

On this mountain bike tour Ecuador you’ll spend five nights in traditional working haciendas (ranch) and you will also stay in 3- and 4-star local hotels and guest houses. At the haciendas you’ll have the chance to learn about the reforestation project going on in the area.

All breakfasts and lunches, and the final night dinner are included in the tour price.

Whilst not all meals are included in the tour price, so that you can choose what you wish from the dinner menu, we will eat together as a group each mealtime.

You should budget around $50 per day for meals.

The ideal bike for the Ecuador trails is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and 140mm -160mm of travel front and rear.

Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your mountain bike tour in Ecuador.

There will be opportunities to do laundry at a couple of your accommodations.

Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety.

You will fly into Quito airport, which is well-served by major airlines from all over the world.

If you’re flying from the UK or Europe KLM have a direct flight from Amsterdam to Quito, and Iberia from Madrid to Quito, which is very handy! You must book your bike on to your flight in advance, otherwise you could face a heavy charge at the airport.

Visas

Visitors from most countries do not need a visa to visit Ecuador for up to 90 days, you just need a passport that is valid for at least six months after your return from Ecuador.

You must check the relevant government website to satisfy yourself of the requirements for you to travel into and out of Ecuador.

Arrival and departure details

Your mountain bike tour Ecuador will start and end in Quito.

We advise arriving in Quito a day or two before the tour start date, to adjust to local time and start acclimatising to the altitude. If you are arriving prior to the tour start date, your guide will meet you at your H+I recommended hotel in Quito Old Town on day 1 of your adventure.

We have created this handy guide to spending 24 hours in Quito before the start of your mountain bike tour Ecuador.

On the last day of your adventure we will transfer you back to Quito airport for your flight home, and would ask you to book your return flight departing no earlier than 2pm on the last day.

Our mountain bike guides in Ecuador are of the highest level.

They are qualified in first-aid, and have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely in these remote, wild parts of Ecuador. Our mountain bike guides have years of experience in the saddle on the Ecuadorian trails and will enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna.

They’re also genuinely nice people and will go the extra mile to make sure that everyone has an unforgettable experience on our mountain bike tour Ecuador.

One of the things that set our holidays apart from other mountain bike tours in Ecuador is the quality of the accommodation we use. We understand that when you’ve had a big day in the saddle, you want a warm welcome, wash and a comfortable place to relax and unwind – because that’s exactly what we’re looking for too.

This is why we only work with accommodation providers across Ecuador whose standards of service match our own high expectations.

During your time in Ecuador you will be staying in a wide variety of accommodation from a large hotel in Quito to traditional hill cottages (haciendas).

Food is a major part of our Ecuador mountain bike adventure, and we’ve worked hard to find the best local providers that produce the most delicious home-cooked meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Whilst most dinners are not included in the tour price, so that you can choose what you wish from the dinner menu, we will eat together as a group every evening. You should budget around $50 per day for food and drink.

No vaccinations are required for visiting Ecuador.

Ecuador is generally a very safe country in which to travel. It is, however, wise to keep an eye on valuables as you travel through towns and cities.

You cannot drink water from the rivers on our tours, nor the tap water. Bottled water is widely available.

Please let us know if you have any special food requirements, allergies or pre-existing conditions your guides should know about.

You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.

The official currency of Ecuador is the US Dollar (USD) and is the only currency that will be accepted. ATM machines are available in Quito.

Major credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa are accepted at large hotels, shops, and restaurants in larger cities and in some rural hotels. It is advisable to carry some cash with you when you go into the wilderness.

Tipping

It is not compulsory to tip your waiting staff or guides in Ecuador, however if you feel you have received good service and have enjoyed your trip you can tip at your discretion.

We recommend tipping around 5% of the cost of your tour, which will be split amongst the guiding and support team.

For service staff in cafés and restaurants we recommend tipping between 10% and 15% of your bill.

You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers cancellation and baggage, including your bike.

We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them.